The Clothes Spa was located at 205 W. Wisconsin Ave. in Appleton. / Maureen Wallenfang/The Post-Crescent

Written by

Maureen Wallenfang

Post-Crescent staff writer

Reader question: Did you know that The Clothes Spa on Wisconsin Avenue has closed?

Answer: I did not. I went over Tuesday morning and saw a sign saying the dry cleaner closed Nov. 16. It’s at 205 W. Wisconsin Ave. in Appleton, which is across the street from Gunderson Cleaners and a block east of Sterling Dry Cleaning.

Dale Chu, who owns the place with wife Christina Van Handel, was just coming to pick up some clothes for delivery while I was there.

“We got to the point where we were pretty busy, but we were working ungodly hours. I was working 100 hours a week and my wife was working 70 hours,” he said. “If we hired an employee, we wouldn’t make any money.”

They had been leasing the building since February 2011. The previous business at this site was Sunny Cleaners, owned by Chu’s father, So Chu.

Both Van Handel and Dale Chu have new jobs.

“It’s OK. I go from 100 hours to 50,” he said. “I can’t complain. Our kids are happy to see us. “

A few last garments remain in plastic bags on a rack, and he said a few of them had been there for more than a year. The number to call for outstanding orders is 920-202-0926. Any clothes not picked up by the end of the year will be donated to charity, he said.